Homeward Bound, Battered but not Beaten

When I get off this plane, I am going to French Kiss the ground. I am so completely over this trip.

Arrived.
Never has a single word brought so much relief.
The ordeal is finally over.

A map of the whole journey, outbound and return.
Time to finally complete the very last leg.

After another unexpected night in Germany, I am so ready for this trip to be over. While getting ready to leave the hotel this morning, I was talking with Tim and confessed that I was beginning to wish I hadn't gone to all the trouble to get to Craiova in the first place.

So, This is Currywurst?

After missing my flight, I needed to find some dinner. While standing in a queue, I overheard the couple behind me raving about Bavarian curry, setting my expectations quite high. I figured it was the perfect opportunity to try a local specialty.

Defeated in Munich (What IS It With Germany!?)

For an unexpected evening in December,
the weather here in Bavaria is actually not that bad.

The Journey Home Begins... Slowly

After a great week with the team in Craiova, it's time to begin the long journey home. Last night, after the Christmas party, I checked my travel plans. The airline noted a small snowstorm in Bucharest but assured me no travel delays were predicted.

The planned route home.
Hopefully, all these connections will actually hold this time.

Keeping Up with the Kids in Craiova

What better way to wrap up a successful week of Sprint Planning than with a Christmas party? The team in Craiova really knows how to celebrate, and it was the perfect final event for my trip.

A Taste of Romania

A couple of classic Romanian dishes: Sărmale (stuffed cabbage rolls)
and Tochitură cu Mămăliguță (a pork stew with polenta).

Breaking Bread in Craiova

One of the best parts of any work trip is the time spent with colleagues after the day's meetings are done. Tonight, we all gathered for another great team dinner here in Craiova.

The whole team gathered for another lovely dinner after a productive day of meetings.

A Day Late, But Here

Arrived at the Craiova office.
The holiday decorations are a nice, festive touch.

The Best Cure for a Long Journey

I am finally here! After what felt like an endless journey of cancellations, reroutes, and delays, I finally made it to Craiova and met up with my colleagues. The first order of business was a much-needed dinner at a cozy local restaurant, a chance to relax and reconnect before our work week began.

From Travel Chaos to Christmas Cheer

This is definitely going to be my Christmas Card this year!

Adding Injury to Insult

After two days of travel chaos that felt like an eternity, I am finally, finally in Romania. The journey, however, managed to throw a few more punches before it was over.

The Scenic Route to Romania

After an unexpected night in a Frankfurt hotel, I am back at the airport before dawn, ready for attempt number... well, I've lost count.

Back at Frankfurt airport before dawn,
hoping today's travel plans will actually stick.

Defeated in Frankfurt

Flying over a snow-dusted Bavaria.
From up here, you'd never guess the chaos waiting on the ground.

Snow in Munich, Chaos in Chicago

The next big work trip began with a simple goal: get to Craiova, Romania, for a week of Sprint Planning. As it turned out, "simple" was not on the itinerary.

A Last-Minute Change of Plans

 And so, the next big trip begins.

It always helps to visualize the journey.
The plan is a long one: a nearly 20,000 km
round trip to Romania and back.

A Celestial Bookend to the Day

Some days are framed by celestial events. Today was one of them. I caught the last glimpse of the full moon as it set this morning, a pale, detailed orb against the early darkness.

The Wolf Moon setting just after 6 AM,
seen from our home in Lakewood.

The Night Before the Wolf Moon

There's a special kind of anticipation on the night before a full moon. It hangs in the sky, just a sliver short of perfect, a brilliant preview of the main event.

A Sliver of Light at Dusk

The waning crescent moon setting at 6 AM,
just as the day prepares to begin.

When the Sky Demands Attention

Sometimes the sky puts on a show you can't ignore. I was in my office this morning when I noticed the quality of the light suddenly change. It's a subtle cue that seasoned sky-watchers learn to recognize—a sign that something dramatic is happening. I immediately ran to the living room window, and this was my reward. The clouds were set ablaze in a way that made the whole world feel grand and new. 

This was the spectacular view this morning
that made me drop everything and grab my camera.

Usurped by the Dogs, Rewarded by the Sky

My morning routine was politely but firmly rejected today. I went down to the TV room in the basement to start my day, only to find that the couch had been thoroughly claimed.

This was the peaceful scene
that greeted me in the basement this morning.

And So It Begins: The First Snowfall

Just a week after admiring our golden tree against a blue sky, autumn came to an abrupt and decisive end. 

No Need to Travel Far

After chasing fall colors across Colorado and flying to Minnesota for family, sometimes you come home to find the most perfect autumn scene waiting right in your own yard.

The Early Flight Home

A quiet, early morning on the tarmac at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.

From Urbank to Minneapolis, A Day for Family

An unexpected and thought-provoking sight to start our morning.

The day of the main event began with an unusual sight: a pickup truck towing a trailer full of large, fabricated crosses.

A Minnesota Welcome of Friends and Traditions

The first full day in Minnesota greeted us with a classic rainy, grey morning. The weather set a cozy tone for a day that turned out to be full of wonderful surprises and treasured traditions.

The rain this morning washed-out all hopes of a photoshoot!

From the Rockies to the Land of 10,000 Lakes

An early and cloudy morning at Denver International Airport, ready for a new adventure.

The travels continue. Just a couple of days after returning from our tour of western Colorado, it was time to pack a bag again.

Fall Tour Day Four: Ouray to Lakewood

A final, gentle sunrise over the San Juans as we prepared to leave Ouray.

A Bonus Day at the Black Canyon

 Our trip was supposed to be a three-day loop, but we woke up in Ouray and realized we were too close to an opportunity to pass it up. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park—a place I had never been and Tim was eager to see again—was just a short drive away.

Fall Tour Day Two: Alamosa to Ouray

Day two began with a spectacular celestial handover in Alamosa. As the sun rose over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind us, a thick fog still clung to the San Juans ahead, the range we’d be exploring all day.  

A quiet sunrise over the Sangre de Cristos
to start our day in Alamosa.

Meanwhile, Back at Home...

Lev and Neshama, enjoying their own version of a vacation.

While we're out on the road chasing mountain views and autumn leaves, it's nice to know the pups are having a good vacation of their own.

And We're Off: The 2023 Fall Color Drive Begins

Our three-day itinerary for chasing Colorado's fall colors.

One Last Drive Up a Storied Road

The Supermoon hanging over Echo Lake before dawn.

Columbines and Granite Views

 After the previous day's preparations, we hit the road.

Our destination, standing tall against the summer sky.

The drive up Squaw Pass Road is a journey in itself, offering sweeping views that make you pull over just to take it all in.

One Last Trip to a Mountain Called Evans

 here’s a special kind of excitement that builds in the driveway just before a trip. For a few days at the end of August, we decided to trade our usual roof for a canvas one, renting a pop-up camper for an escape to the mountains. 

Our temporary home, ready for its mountain adventure.